David Ellery is a documentary film-maker, director and writer, author and ship historian based in Hampshire. He has written and produced/ directed a variety of stand-alone documentaries and five series' for television and is credited with more than 150 published magazine articles and several books. He also appears as part of the on-screen team for The Great British Home Movie Roadshow, first broadcast in August and September 2010. In 2011 he received his second Royal Television Society Award. Recent work includes the documentary: P&O Cruises - Celebrating 175 Years of Heritage, which he wrote, edited and directed, a short film with actress Sarah Parish about the Murray Parish Trust and The Ultimate Challenge - a 6-part travel/ roadshow series for television and most recently Wattisham Both Sides of the Fence, the story of an airfield with a unique place in British aviation history , which Ellery wrote, narrated, filmed and edited, and for which he received his third RTS Award . In 2019 Ellery wrote, narrated and directed Britain's Last Paddle Steamers, followed by Cold WarEast Anglia - the front line, a broadcast quality documentary . Ellery's background is in writing. As a freelance feature writer he produced articles for a variety of regional and national magazines and papers, including Women's Realm, Woman & Home, Homes & Gardens and the Express newspaper group. They include celebrity interviews with stars like Stefanie Powers, Heather Lockyear, Peter Davison and Sir Norman Wisdom, and articles on travel, art, and motoring. In September 1992 Ellery became the Motoring Correspondent for regional radio station Spire FM in Salisbury, reporting on motoring matters from events like the London Motorshow and presenting a weekly slot. He then moved into television production, scripting and voice-over work. Ellery has also been commissioned by EMTAS to produce several educational films, including programmes to introduce and support the award winning Young Interpreters Scheme and New Arrivals Ambassadors, for schools across the UK .
Works
Television
The Ultimate Challenge. A 6-part travel/ roadshow documentary series: written, narrated and edited by David Ellery.
The Great British Home Movie Roadshow. Broadcast on BBC2, this 5-part series featuring amateur cine footage spans 100 years of the nation's history. David Ellery is one of the programme's presenters and on-screen 'experts'.
Beechings Tracks part of the BBC's recent Railway Season. This programme explores the impact of Dr Richard Beeching's infamous railway cuts of the 1960s on the south of England, known as the Beeching Axe. Shown on BBC1 in October 2008.
Regal & Retired a documentary for Viewpoint Productions. Made for the BBC, this programme marked the 70th anniversary of RMS Queen Mary, the last 1930s 'superliner'. Shown on BBC1 in May 2006 and BBC Scotland July 2006. Narrated by Julie Peasgood.
In The Past : written, produced, directed and narrated by David Ellery, the series features archive film footage from the 1920s-1960s. First broadcast in 2000 on ITV1.
In the Past: Further programmes in a similar vein to the first series. First broadcast in 2001 on ITV1.
In The Past : A 15-part series featuring archive film sequences from as early as 1896 to approximately 1969, covering a wide range of themes from the development of air travel and family motoring to life during World War II and employment. First broadcast in 2003 on ITV1.
Classic Liners: A six-part series depicting classic ocean liners and liner travel using archive film from the 1960s and 70s and contemporary footage. First broadcast 2002.
Programmes for TV that Ellery is associated with have in a number of cases become available On Demand and/ or on DVD. The In The Past series' were re-edited so programmes focus on geographical regions rather than theme and Classic Liners has also been released via three individual disks More recently, P&O Cruises - Celebrating 175 Years of Heritage was released, along with Kingswear Castle - A Voyage through her Life The Ultimate Challenge - 6-part roadtrip series and Wattisham, Both Sides of the Fence - the story of an airfield with a unique place in British aviation history . Britain's Last Paddle Steamers and Cold War East Anglia - the frontline, .
In September 1992 Ellery became the Motoring Correspondent for regional radio station Spire FM in Salisbury, when the station first went on air. In this role he reported on a wide range of motoring topics from events like the London Motorshow and presented a weekly slot, which included test-drives, reviews and motoring advice.
Won Best Non Broadcast Programme for Wattisham: Both Sides of the Fence Nominated for Best Director Nominated for Best in Category for P&O Cruises - Celebrating 175 Years of Heritage. Won - "Best Non News Multi-Skills Award". Won - "Best Popular Factual Programme" for Regal & Retired - the Story of RMS Queen Mary
